I just saw this in Hemmings - lots of good info that may apply to YOU! While I don't necessarily agree with everything presented, it still a LOT of good info.
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If you have a wood trailer deck ,screwing down 2 x 4 blocks at the front and back of two wheels is zero movement when properly strapped. Always cross the straps i.e right strap to left anchor point - left strap to right anchor point.
Hey Alan. Taking your advice...when I got home from Carslisle this year I screwed 2x4s into my tralier in front of the front wheels and in back of the rear wheels. I also bought some nice basket straps. Me and the Spyder will be ready for Carlisle 2022.
Thanks!
That's great Phil, those skinny tie-downs scared the crap outta me!
There are MANY schools of thought with respect to crossing straps. I was taught to cross ONE end and not both ends of the car by a big towing company when I worked there as a young man. Crossing straps doesn't work with a swing-axle car anyway, the suspension would jack.
I winch the Spyder in, and leave the winch attached and tight. My Spyder gets tied down from the lower control arms in front with 2" ratchet straps. Heavy chains from tiedown transitioning to nylon loops over the frame in back. It doesn't move. I've gone to North Carolina and back. All straps are straight-ish, they all angle outward a bit from car to tie-down.
If you crossed the straps with a Spyder, the rear would jack and the front straps would hit the bodywork, so not gonna work. Basket straps are a great thing. Even looping through the wheels works pretty well, I've done that on my Cayman.
Just a little food for thought for anyone with a swing-axle car.
Alan took pity on me and told me how he would tow my car with my open trailer. He felt that with on open trailer like mine securing the wheels would be more secure in an accident. Also by securing the wheels less stress is placed on the suspension and shocks. My trailer has a wood deck so the 2x4s make perfect sense. And as I drive over them I know just when to stop.
Phil, I approve of the wheel basket straps for YOUR application.
I doubt that wheel baskets are "more secure" than straps and chains to the frame.
I also don't believe that there is less stress on the suspension with baskets vs. frame.
The frame straps compress the suspension a bit in a straight down motion, just like they do when you hit a bump. The suspension stays in one position, the car doesn't move.
Wheel baskets actually pull the suspension and stress it MORE than frame straps. And add that pulling to suspension moving up and down also...